09 May 2011

I immediately set out to reverse engineer the flake I had created back in September 2009 and write a pattern. Now that poor little snowflake has a name and a pattern!

Colorado is full of treasures, mines and minerals. The locations of nearly 30 ore, gold or silver mines throughout the state, initially discovered in the 1800s, remain unknown to this day, and some of those lost mines have great names, such as Lost Crazy Swede Mine, Lost Golden Ledge and Lost Sheepherder Lode. I am SO tempted to make a flake to represent each of them! This snowflake easily could have taken the name of a lost mine, being as it was a lost treasure until I traveled back in time through my snowflake archives.

However, the first name that came to my mind when I realized this toddler snowflake had escaped my pattern collection was Lost Creek Wilderness. The flake will take the moniker of the namesake creek.

Lost Creek Wildnerness is one of the easiest somewhat isolated yet recreational destinations to get to from the Denver metro area, just 60 miles away. Because 14ers and now even 13ers are such popular tourist attractions, ranges such as the Wilderness' Tarryalls and Kenosha Mountains with less elevation see far fewer humans. This wilderness area is prone to mild winters, making the southern access trails seem like fall or spring in December, January and February.

The 119,790-acre wilderness gets its name from Lost Creek, which spends much of its journey beneath ground, or lost, before trickling into Goose Creek, which then dumps into the South Platte River and Cheeseman Reservoir, a major watershed in the South Platte Basin. (Exactly how this drainage maintains watershed status tickles me because the climate here is so arid.)

The Lost Creek Wilderness is home to stunning rock formations, including natural arches. More than 130 miles of trails, including a portion of the Colorado Trail, make for great recreation opportunities year round. No mountain biking, but rock climbing, hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing possibilities are endless. Well, except when there's no snow...

Natural arches are a huge photographic draw for The Lizard and me. We are equally drawn to unusual rock formations as well. Lost Creek Wilderness holds a very special place in my heart, however, thanks to a pair of mountains named Payne and No Payne, no kidding. I climbed both on the third anniversary of my emergency back surgery, and it was not my first attempt. I've had assorted adventures in the Lost Creek Wilderness, including a stint as camp director for teen girls, but there is still much to be seen, and I anxiously await my next visit.

You may do whatever you'd like with snowflakes you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!

Round 1: Ch 6 (counts as 1 dc and ch 4), *2 dc in ring, ch 4; repeat from * around 4 times for a total of 6 petals; 1 dc in ring, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2. Do not pull magic circle too tight.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Round 3: *1 sc in next ch 2 sp, ch 2, 1 hdc in next ch 2 sp, ch 2, 1 dc in next ch 2 sp, ch 10, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st in each of next 5 ch, ch 7, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st in each of next 4 ch, ch 6, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st in each of next 3 ch, ch 5, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st in each of next 3 ch (top of tree made), ch 5, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st in each of next 3 ch, working back down "tree", sl st in next ch between "branches," ch 6, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st in each of next 4 ch, sl st in ch between branches, ch 7, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st in each of next 5 ch, 1 sc in ch next ch below final branch, sl st in next ch, ch 1, 1 dc in same ch 2 sp, ch 2, 1 hdc in next ch 2 sp, ch 2, 1 sc in next ch 2 sp, ch 9, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook (1st picot made), ch 3, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 3, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, sk 1 ch after 1st picot, 1 dc in each of next 2 ch, 1 hdc in each of next 2 ch, 1 sc in each of next 2 ch; repeat from * around 5 times; sl st in starting sc; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: Tape wax paper or plastic wrap to top of empty pizza box. Pin snowflake to box on top of wax paper or plastic wrap.

Mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint snowflake with glue mixture. Sprinkle lightly with glitter. Wash paintbrush and container thoroughly. Allow snowflake to dry at least 24 hours. Remove pins. Gently peel snowflake from wax paper or plastic wrap. Attach 10-inch clear thread to one spoke, weaving in end. Wrap fishing line around tree branch (or tape to ceiling or any overhead surface) and watch the snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

That colorful thread is perfect to depict the red rocks and green trees and foliage in your Lost Creek Wilderness snowflake. Just perfect! (Have you two been to Rainbow Bridge at Lake Powell? Completely gorgeous!)

Great name for the snowflake and glad you found the treasure! I am enjoying your pictures as much as the snowflakes; I volunteer to work a Colorado county for the GenWeb project, Las Animas. I've wondered what Colorado looks like.

Thank you, Sandi! What a neat project you are doing! I drive through Las Animas County when I go home to New Mexico; there are some great historical sites there. Here's an interesting piece of trivia: Las Animas is only a portion of the original name of the Purgatoire River. The original Spanish name translated means River of Lost Souls in Purgatory. How's that for scary!!!

Dusty words lying under carpets,seldom heard, well must you keep your secretslocked inside, hidden deep from view?You can talk to me... (Stevie Nicks)

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